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It's crazy that in 2021 they still don't have videos of how to assemble their furniture. I mean, it couldn't be that they charge you for assembly service...

Ma8ee 6y ago
I don’t think videos would help. Their instructions are already exceptionally well made, and I’ve yet to see any IKEA furniture that is hard to assemble.
- umeshunni 6y ago
  To add to what you said, every time I have bought furniture from someone other than IKEA that needs to be assembled, I've missed IKEA's clear instructions.
  - Ma8ee 6y ago
    Oh yes! I’ve from time to time strayed from buying IKEA furniture with the thought that since I can afford it I should get something nicer. But whenever I pay something like 2-3 times as much as I would for some equivalent IKEA piece, the quality is usually worse and the instructions horrendous. To really get better quality I need to pay something like 5-10 times as much as IKEA prices, and that it is rarely worth.
    - Grustaf 6y ago
      No, just get vintage furniture. Even if you go for top quality in great condition, it's not going to be 10 times more than IKEA, and it will last forever. Not to mention it won't look like crap.
- azinman2 6y ago
  Maybe for you. Not everyone is so mechanically inclined, or can understand instructions well.
  - Ma8ee 6y ago
    Maybe it’s because I’m Swedish. ;)
- Grustaf 6y ago
  Yeah i think most people simply don’t want to try, or they are certain they wouldn’t be able to. But even if the instructions are very clear, videos could make it more approachable to people.
  - Ma8ee 6y ago
    Maybe more approachable, but I don’t think more clear.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 6y ago
  I have assembled several pieces. From my limited experience, there always seemed one step that was a little hard to get right, whether because of angles, or tight space, or having to hold something else in place while screwing. Other than the one tricky step, everything else was pretty easy. Free tip: Get a powered screwdriver before you start. It will definitely be worth the investment.
  - Ma8ee 6y ago
    For chests of drawers I certainly recommend powered screwdrivers (IKEA sell cheap, and for this particular use, adequate powered screwdrivers). On the other hand, are you assembling some Ivar shells there’s hardly any screws.
    - Grustaf 6y ago
      Life without a small power drill/electric screwdriver combo is hardly worth living. Even in an apartment you need it all the time...
  - QuercusMax 6y ago
    +1000 to the powered screwdriver or small cordless drill. I've been putting together a lot of furniture recently, and with RSI all the screwdriving is murder on my hands; it makes all the difference to avoid this type of repetitive strain.
- joezydeco 6y ago
  But some pieces can mess you up with orientation. Is that long board symmetrical or not? If you missed that there are three small dots at the left end of the diagram and two on the right, you'll probably install it backwards. It's happened to the best of us. If you've ever built a LEGO kit and been off by one stud somewhere early in the project, you'll know the feeling.
  - Ma8ee 6y ago
    I don’t know how long it was since you put together any IKEA furniture, but even things like these are hard to miss nowadays. I don’t know how and if they tests their instructions, but they seem to know quite well what kind of mistakes people tend to do and adapt their instructions accordingly.

Ma8ee 6y ago

I don’t think videos would help. Their instructions are already exceptionally well made, and I’ve yet to see any IKEA furniture that is hard to assemble.

umeshunni 6y ago
To add to what you said, every time I have bought furniture from someone other than IKEA that needs to be assembled, I've missed IKEA's clear instructions.
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  Oh yes! I’ve from time to time strayed from buying IKEA furniture with the thought that since I can afford it I should get something nicer. But whenever I pay something like 2-3 times as much as I would for some equivalent IKEA piece, the quality is usually worse and the instructions horrendous. To really get better quality I need to pay something like 5-10 times as much as IKEA prices, and that it is rarely worth.
  - Grustaf 6y ago
    No, just get vintage furniture. Even if you go for top quality in great condition, it's not going to be 10 times more than IKEA, and it will last forever. Not to mention it won't look like crap.
azinman2 6y ago
Maybe for you. Not everyone is so mechanically inclined, or can understand instructions well.
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  Maybe it’s because I’m Swedish. ;)
Grustaf 6y ago
Yeah i think most people simply don’t want to try, or they are certain they wouldn’t be able to. But even if the instructions are very clear, videos could make it more approachable to people.
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  Maybe more approachable, but I don’t think more clear.
RcouF1uZ4gsC 6y ago
I have assembled several pieces. From my limited experience, there always seemed one step that was a little hard to get right, whether because of angles, or tight space, or having to hold something else in place while screwing. Other than the one tricky step, everything else was pretty easy. Free tip: Get a powered screwdriver before you start. It will definitely be worth the investment.
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  For chests of drawers I certainly recommend powered screwdrivers (IKEA sell cheap, and for this particular use, adequate powered screwdrivers). On the other hand, are you assembling some Ivar shells there’s hardly any screws.
  - Grustaf 6y ago
    Life without a small power drill/electric screwdriver combo is hardly worth living. Even in an apartment you need it all the time...
- QuercusMax 6y ago
  +1000 to the powered screwdriver or small cordless drill. I've been putting together a lot of furniture recently, and with RSI all the screwdriving is murder on my hands; it makes all the difference to avoid this type of repetitive strain.
joezydeco 6y ago
But some pieces can mess you up with orientation. Is that long board symmetrical or not? If you missed that there are three small dots at the left end of the diagram and two on the right, you'll probably install it backwards. It's happened to the best of us. If you've ever built a LEGO kit and been off by one stud somewhere early in the project, you'll know the feeling.
- Ma8ee 6y ago
  I don’t know how long it was since you put together any IKEA furniture, but even things like these are hard to miss nowadays. I don’t know how and if they tests their instructions, but they seem to know quite well what kind of mistakes people tend to do and adapt their instructions accordingly.